Suction cleaner construction



Feb.` 7, 1939. l UE F. MARTINE-r 2,146,152

SUCTION CLEANER CONSTRUCTION Filed May '7, v1955 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb.7, 1939. E. F. MARTINET SUCTION CLEANER QONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed May 7, 1955 15 TIM/a Miky/i [21a Am 4 /57 r VN Patented Feb. 7,1939 UNITED STATES SUOTION CLEANER CONSTRUCTION Eugene F. Martinet,Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The P. A. Geier Com corporation of Ohiopany, Cleveland, Ohio, a

Application May 7, 1935, Serial No. 20,183

4 Claims.

The invention relates to suction cleaners, and more particularly to anelectric lighting device or headlight construction for an electricallyoperated portable, domestic or' household suction 5 v cleaner having amotor`driven fan, a suction nozzle and a. dust bag manipulated by ahandle. A suction cleaner is equipped with a lighting device forilluminating floor areas, dark corners and places beneath articles offurniture, in order that the cleaner nozzle may be more readily, quicklyand easily manipulated for cleaning areas otherwise poorly illuminated.

The provision of an electric lighting device on a suction cleaner,however, adds to the cleaner an electrical device and electricalconnections therefor, which may be hazardous if any of the connectionsbecome loosened,-or if the circuit for the lighting device becomes shortcircuited.

Moreover, diiliculties are encountered in equipping vanelectrically-operated portable suction cleaner with an electric lightingdevice, because such a device is subjected to jars and constantvibration during operation of the cleaner, with a resultant tendency ofloosening the lighting device and the electrical connections and light.sockets thereof. I

Moreover, all of these diiiiculties are increased because only a verylimited amount of space is available for mounting a lighting device on asuction cleaner at a place where most eincient nozzle illuminationmay beprovided.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anelectrically-operated portable suction cleaner with a lighting device inwhich hazards resulting from loose electrical connections or shortcircuiting are eliminated.

Likewise, it is an object of theV present invention to provide anelectrically-operated portable suction cleaner with a lighting device,the constituent parts of which are unaiected by vibration and jarring.

It is a further object of the present invention Yto provide anelectrically-operated portable suction cleaner with a. lighting devicethat may be readily attached to the' cleaner in a limited space, usuallyavailable in various types of port- -able suction cleaners.'

Furthermore, it is an object of the present' invention to provide alighting device attachment for a suction cleaner having relatively fewparts of simple and inexpensive construction in manu` facture, assemblyand use.

And'iinally, it is an object of the present invention to provide alighting device for an electrieally-operated portable suction cleaner,which (Cl. 24o-2) avoids the described difficulties experienced in theuse of prior cleaner lighting devices, and which incorporates one ormore of the advantageous characteristics set forth above.

These and other objects may be obtained by 5A the Suction cleaner andVlighting device constructions, parts, elements and combinations,preferred embodiments of which are shown in the accompanying drawingsand are hereinafter described in detail and claimed, which may be statedl0 in general terms as preferably including in suction cleaner lightingdevice construction, an insulating base provided with an integralsocket,

a light bulb removably mounted in the socket, electrical connectorsextending from the base in l5 electric circuit connection with the lightbulb, and a reflector housing guard clamping said base and connectors tothe suction cleaner casing.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of an 2o electrically-operatedportable suction cleaner equipped Awith one form of improved lightingdevice or headlight construction; y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional ele vation of the improvedlighting device shown in 25 Fig. l, attached to a fragmentary portion oia suction cleaner;

Fig. 3 is a still further enlarged fragmentary sectional view of someofthe parts shown in Fig. 2, taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the improved lighting device with thelight bulb removed, taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4, but taken on the line 5 5,Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is another cross sectional view of the lighting device taken onthe line 6 6, Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the integral base and socket used inthe improved lighting device;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken 40 on the line 8 8, Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9 9, Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line |0 l0, Fig. 2

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a 45 modied form ofimproved lighting device or headlight construction; and

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary section taken on the line |2 |2, Fig. 11.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts 50 throughout the variousiigures of the drawings.

A usual type o1' electrically-operated portable suction cleaner is shownin Fig. 1, which may comprise a motor in a motor housing Il, providedwith la fan housing l2 having a fan (not 55 shown) therein, and asuction nozzle I3 communlcatingwith the Ian housing. An operatinghandleI4, and a dust bag I5 connected with the exhaust opening I6 of thefan housing I2, are also provided for the cleaner; and the motor housingII, the fan housing I2 and nozzle I3 are mounted on front casters I1 anda preferably adjustable rear caster I8 for ambulant motion over a flooror the like indicated at I9.

One embodiment of the improved electric lighting device is indicatedgenerally at 20 in Fig. 1 and is best illustrated in Figs. 2 to 10,inclusive. The lighting device 20 preferably includes a casing orhousing 2| in which is mounted a socket base generally indicated at 22(Fig. rI), a light bulb 23, and electrical connectors 24.

The socket base 22 preferably comprises g a socket member 25 and a basemember 26; and the base member 26 is generally U-shaped in contour andis formed of insulation material such as molded Bakelite, or the like.lThe socket side of the base member 26 is preferably provided with arecess 21, and preferably two slots or grooves 28 are formed in therecess 21.

The socket member 25 preferably comprises a cylindrical portion 29 fromwhich a semicircularv portion 38 extends; and the semi-circularportion-30. terminates in an outturned semi-circular annular ange 3I,which is integrally secured to the insulation material base member 26 asby placing the socket member 25 in the mold in which the insulationmaterial -base member 26 is molded.

The cylindrical portion 29 of the socket member 25 is preferablyprovided with the usual diametrically opposed L-slots 32 forreceivingand retaining the usual pins 33 projecting from theA socket sleeve 34 ofthe electric light bulb 23.

The connector side of the base member 26 is preferably wedge-shaped asindicated generally at 35, with a generally U-shaped contour smallervaperipheral flange 31 on the base member 26 for a purpose which will behereinafter described.

Two irregularly shaped recesses 33 are preferably provided in theconnector side of the base member 26; and apertures 39 are formed in thebase member 26 communicating between the recesses 38 and the upper endsof the slots 23.

Two L-shaped clip's 46 are secured to the base member 26 by screws 4I.Withrespect to each clip 48, one leg 42 thereof extends through one ofthe apertures 39' with its outer end 43 perforated `at 44 and locatedwithin the confines of one of the recesses'38; and the other leg 45thereof is located within the confines of lone .of the slots 28 where itis engaged by the screw 4I.

A spring contact clip 46, generally U-shaped, with a short leg 41 and along leg 43, is assembled to each clip 48 by clamping its short leg 41by the screw 4I between the leg 45 of the L shaped clip 40 and thebottom surface of the lrecess 28, so that the long leg 43 thereofresiliently contacts at 49 with a contact point 56 on the l light bulb23.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4'and 5, the rib 5I of the insulationmaterlal basemember 26 extends between and separates the two grooves 23 and thecontact clips 46 and the assemblies thereof 1iny y the grooves 28; andlikewise, referring to Figs. 3

and 6, the rib 52 of the insulation material base .member 26 extendsbetween the recesses 33 in the connector side of the baseand separatesthe ends 43 of the L-shaped clips 43. 'I'he terminal ends 53 of theelectric wire connectors 24 may 31 of the base member 26 is received.Referringy to Figs. '1* and 2, an angular corner shoulder or recess 51is present between the upper surface 58 of the nozzle I3 and the outerface 59 of the fan casing I2; and the corner 51 provides a convenientand accessible but restricted space within which to locate and mountthelighting device 28.

The casing 2| is preferably secured to the nozzle I3 by screws 69 (Figs.2 and 9) engaging the ribs 66' in the outer portions of the side walls6I of the trough .reflector and guard portion 62 of the casing orhousing 2i; andthe crescentshaped end 63 (Figs. 1 and 10) of the casing'2| is secured to the fan casing I2 preferably by screws 64 received inthreaded apertures 65 in the fan casing.

Referring to Fig. 10, when the crescent-shaped portion 63 is attached tothe fan casing I2, the

y electrical connectors or wires 24- are compressed vibration and jarsfrom loosening the casing 2I from the cleaner. f

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, when the casing 2| is secured tothe cleanerthe ange 31 of the insulation base 26 is located in the casing groove56, whereby the socket base 22 is clamped between the casing 2I and theupper nozzle wall 58, and between the casing 2I and the upper.

fan housing wall 59.

As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, at 66, a pad of insulating material ispreferably interposed between the socket base 2 2 and the fan housingwall 59 for separating the clip ends 43 'from the metal housing walls. l

As usually constructed, the suction cleaner fan casing and nozzle havemetal walls; and the light casing 2I is preferably formed of cast metal.Likewise, the socket member 25 of the socket base 22 is preferably madeof metal, as are the electrical connectors 24 and the clips. and 46.

By forming the base member 26 of insulation material and integrallysecuring the socket memv ber 25 thereto when moldingthe base member 26,the socket member 25 does not contact with tension thereon in turn holdsthe screws 4I from loosening due to vibration, so that the lightingdevice is substantially vibration proof.

By clamping the socket base 22 between the housing 2I and cleaner casingwithout the use of any screws engaging the base member 26,

For this reason, if'

socket member 25 ina usual mannerl and the the same is held tightwithout the possibility Y 2,140,159 of cracking the brittle moldedinsulation material--A lmum amount of light from the light' bulb 23shines on the oor being cleaned.

Accordingly, -the improved construction pro-r vides a lighting devicefor a suction cleaner which is very simplified in design, easy toassemble; and enables a lighting device to be secured to the cleaner ina relatively small and cramped space with a satisfactory socket which isnevertheless well insulated from the cleaner.

In Figs. 11 and 12, a construction is shown identical to that shown inthe remaining gures of the drawings, excepting only that its casing 2iais formed from stamped metal rather than cast metal. Otherwise, theconstruction of the remaining parts of the lighting device'shown inPigs. 11 and 12 is the' same; and the casing 2Ia functions in everymanner in the same way as the casing or housing 2|. For. securing thesocket base 22 to the casing 2ia, spaced tangs "a are struck inward fromthe housing 21a. to function in the same manner as the ribs l! providedin the casing 2l, to engirdle the flange 3l o! the socket base 22.

I claim: I 1. In electric suction cleaner construction having a casingincluding a tan housing and nozzle with a corner formed therebetween, anelectric lighting device including an insulating socket base, a lightbulb removably mounted thereon, electrical connectors extending from thebase in electric circuit ,connection with the light bulb, and a housingbearing against one edge of said base and clamping the opposite edge ofthe base in said corner.

2. In electric suction cleaner construction including a fan casinghaving a wall and a nozzle having a wall forming a corner therewith, an

electric lighting device including a housing mounted on one of saidwalls at said corner, and

a light socket clamped in the corner by the-- housing between thehousing and said last mentioned wall and insulated therefrom.

3. In electric suction cleaner construction in- -cluding a casing, an'electric lighting device mountedl on said casing including a baseformed of molded insulation material provided with a socket, there beinga ilange provided on said base, a light bulb in said socket, a housingsecured to said casing provided with a groove, and said ilange beinglocated in said groove for securing the base to the casing.

, 4. In electric suction cleaner construction including erasing, anelectric lighting device mounted on said casing including a base formedof molded insulation material provided with a socket, there being aflange provided on said base, a light bulb in said socket. a housingsecured lto said casing provided with inwardly projecting means. andsaid ange being located in said means for securing the base to thecasing.

EUGENE F. MARTINE?.

